Tehran to host 5th intl. transfusion medicine congress

TEHRAN – The fifth international transfusion medicine congress will start in Tehran tomorrow to showcase the capabilities and achievements of the country on a global scale.

The two-day scientific event demonstrates the knowledge and capabilities of the Blood Transfusion Organization and the High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine (IRETM), Bashir Haji-Beigi, an official with IBTO who is also the executive chairperson of the congress, said.

It is the fifth experience of hosting a major scientific event at the international level in the field of blood transfusion medicine, a testament to the abilities and proficiencies of specialists in this field and the efficiency of Iran’s blood transfusion system, the health ministry’s website reported.

The IBTO and the IRETM have been selected as research training partners of the World Health Organization for multiple consecutive periods. With the cooperation of the WHO, they have contributed to the development of the knowledge and skills of the regional countries in establishing an efficient blood transfusion system.

“The congress serves as a platform to introduce scientific standing, capabilities, and achievements of the country in the field of blood transfusion medicine on a global scale. It provides an opportunity to learn from the participants’ experiences and knowledge, as well,” he added.

The main objective of the congress includes sharing the latest research findings and scientific achievements among the participants, blood transfusion organizations, institutions, and regional countries, the official noted.

Scientific analysis of management in blood transfusion centers, blood banks, and medical centers, improving blood transfusion work processes through information exchange among blood transfusion centers and blood banks of Iran and regional countries, enhancing the attitude and performance of clinical and laboratory specialists in medical centers in transfusion medicine are among the expected outcomes of the congress.

Participants from 30 countries of the world are going to attend the international congress and some 100 abstracts have been submitted.

More than 15 speakers from Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Spain, Oman, Nepal, Italy, and Egypt are scheduled to deliver speeches both in person and online.

Moreover, research posters by Iranian and foreign students and specialists will be showcased to help participants learn about new research findings more effectively.

Over 50 professors and academic staff members of the IRETM and universities across the country have cooperated as members of the scientific steering committee, scientific committee, scientific reviewers, executive committee, and student committee.

IBTO is WHO’s regional training authority

“The Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization is still known as a regional training authority of the World Health Organization in blood transfusion medicine,” Haji-Beigi, said on April 29.

The official underscored the high position of the IBTO in the region and the world for providing healthy blood voluntarily, IRNA reported.

Haji-Beigi said conducting nucleic acid testing (NAT), a molecular technique for screening blood donations to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections; antibody screening to ensure the recipient and the donor’s blood are compatible to prevent complications from blood transfusion; as well as genetic sequencing using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) method for human leukocyte antigens (HLA)  to check tissue compatibility and facilitate hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for patients are among the activities that have been put on the agenda since last year.

MT / MG